Liquid-reserve valve



May 12, 1925.

w. F. FESSLER LIQUID RESERVE VALVE Filed June 20, 1924 6cm nut Patented May 12, 1925.

UNITED STATES 4 1,537,426 PATENT OFFICE.

WEAVER r. FESSLER, or GREENVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 'ro JAMES F. TAYLOR, on NEW CASTLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

LIQUID-RESERVE VALVE.

Application filed June 20, 1924. Serial No. 721,216.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WEAVER F. FEssLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greenville, in the county of Mercer and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Liquid- Beserve Valves, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to valves for use in connection with liquid storage tanks such as gasoline tanks for motor vehicles and the like, and has for its object the provision of a novel reserve valve which normally prevents draining of the entire contents of the tank but which is operable at will to permit emptying, the advantage being that a certain predetermined amount may be retained in the tank to serve as a reserve supply.

Another object is the provision of adevice of this character which may be equipped with an extension for increasing the quantity which will be retained in the tank when the valve is in normal position so that a larger reserve supply may be had.

The invention further contemplates the general improvement of devices of this character in point of simplicity in manufacture, cheapness, durability, and the like.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a section through a portion of a tank showing my device in place.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the device alone.

Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail section on the line 1- 1 of Figure 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the letter A designates a storage tank or receptacle such for instance as the gasoline tank of an automobile, and B represents the fuel pipe leading to the carbureter.

In carrying out the invention I provide a body member 10 which is externally threaded as shown so as to be screwed into the reinforcement C commonly provided at the discharge opening of the tank. A portion of this body isformed angular, as shown at 11, for engagement by a wrench or the like to facilitate screwing or unscrewing of the device into or out of the tank. Formed on the body is an upstanding tubular member 12 which may be integral with or which could be made as a separate piece suitably secured in place. The body is formed with a somewhat tapered bore 13 which communicates with the tube 12 and which leads into a chamber 14: which is threaded, as shown. At the juncture of the tube with the body is a series of holes 15. Rotatably mounted within the bore 13 is a tubular valve 16 which is likewise tapered and which seats firmly by .the action of a coil spring 17 which engages against the lower end of the valve 16 and against an abutment disk 18 screwed into the chamber 14. This disk is provided with an opening 19 which permits flow of liquid therethrough and this opening is preferably rectangularv in shape so as to facilitate engagementof a tool therewith for screwing the disk into the proper position for giving the requisite tension to the spring.

The valve 16 is formed with a series of ports 20 which are normally out of registration with the openings or holes 15 but which may be brought into registration therewith, as will be explained. The control means for the valve comprises a handle 21 which extends through a slot 22 in thebody and which is secured to the valve as for, instance by being screwed thereinto. Any means might be provided for moving this handle though in actual practice I may employ a rod 28 which has one end engaged through an eye 24 in the handle, or otherwise connected therewith, and which has its other end provided with a knob or button 25 or its equivalent. Naturally, this rod 23 may extend to any desired point within convenient reach of the operator.

In the operation, it is intended that the valve 16 be initially set so that the ports 20 will be out of registration with the openings 15. The liquid, such as gasoline or the like, within the tank A will enter the tube 12 at the upper end thereof and will pass through the hollow valve into the chamber 14: and out through the opening 19 to the fuel line B. WVhen the level of the liquid drops below the upper end of the tube it is obvious that flow through the device will cease. If the device is used in connection with an automobile engine, it is quite evident that at this time the engine will miss fire or stall, a condition which will apprise the operator of the fact that his fuel supply is exhausted except for the small reserve quantity remaining in'the tank below the level of the upper end of the tube.

To permit use of the remaining part of the supply it is merely necessary to pull upon the rod 23 and swing the arm 21 so as to turn the valve 16 and bring its ports 20 into registration with the openings 15 whereupon the gasoline or other liquid will flow through the registering openings and ports into the hollow valve and thence into the fuel line.

If preferred, I may provide a section or tube extension 26 adapted to be screwed onto or into the upper end of the tube 12 for increasing the length thereof and increasing the quantity of the reserve supply remaining in the tank when the valve is left in normal position.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have thus provided a device which will be a distinct convenience for the purpose specified and which will greatly lessen the danger of entirely running out of a fuel supply as ample warning will be given when the supply is exhausted to the reserve point. A feature of advantage is the conical shape of the valve and the bore or seat therefor which insures close engagement at all times under the influence of the spring so that leakage will be prevented.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is of course to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts as will not depart from'the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a body adapted to be mounted at the bottom of a liquid storage tank, the body having a tubular extension and a tapered bore and formed with holes entering the bore at its juncture with the extension, the lower end of the body being formed with a chamber communicating with the bore, a tubular tapered valve rotatably mounted within said bore, an operating handle for the valve, an adjustable abutment screwed into the chamber, and a spring interposed between said abutment and the lower end of the valve, the valve having ports adapted to register with said holes.

2. In a device of the character described, an elongated body adapted to be secured within the bottom of a liquid storage tank and formed with a tapered bore, and a chamber communicating therewith, the body being formed in its sides with openings leading into the bore, a tapered tubular valve rotatably 'mounted within the bore and equipped with, rotating means, the valve having ports adapted to register with said openings, an apertured disk screwed into said chamber, and a spring engaging the disk and the valve, the disk being adjustable for varying the tension of the spring.

3. A device of the character described comprising a body formed for mounting within the bottom of a liquid storage tank, the body being formed with a tubular extension and a tapered bore communicating therewith, the lower end of the body having a threaded chamber therein, the tubular extension being formed with openings leading into the bore, a tubular frusto-conical valve arranged coaxially within the body and tapered for con forming engagement with said tapered bore, the valve ports being adapted to be brought into registration with said openings, said threaded chamber being adapted for connection with a liquid conducting pipe, an apertured abutment disk screwed into the chamber, a spring engaging the disk and the lower end of the valve, and a handle arranged at right angles to'the axis of the body and connected with the valve, the body having a slot permitting movement of the handle.

In testimony whereof I hereto aflix my signature.

WEAVER F. FESSLER. 

